Apparatus for the disintegration ot bagasse and other vegetable matter



(No Model.) 2 She-ets-Sheet 1'.-

T. HARANG.

'APPARATUS'POR THE DISINTBGRATION 0P BAGASSE AND OTHER VEGETABLE MATTER.

No. 278,545. Patented May 29,1883.

WITNESSES INVENTOR M ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, Phalnlithogflpfitr. Washington, D C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. HARANG. APPARATUS FOR THE DISINTEGRATION OF BAGASSE AND OTHER VEGETABLE MATTER. No. 278,545. PasentedyMay 29, 1883.

" WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS;

N. PETERS. PholoLilhugmpher Wmhin wn, 0,0.

To all whom tt may concern:

PATENT JFICE.

THEOBHILE.HARANG,: OF- nnw ionnnans, LOUISIANA. 1

APPARATUS FOR THE D IS INTE GRAl'lON or BAGASSE AND OTHERlVEGETABLE MATTER.

sl ncri-ircarrouf rmm part of Letters Patent No. 278,545, dated. May 29, 1883 Application area January18,1883. (No model.)

Be it known that LTmtormna HARANG,

of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new. and Improved: Apparatus for the Disintegration of Bagasse and other Vegetable Matter, of which the followingis afull, clear, and exact descrip-;

' tion.

The object of myinvention is to provide a a new andimprovedapparatus for extracting the fiber from cane, ;leaves,sorghum, orany other plant, in sucha manner that the saidfiber can beused for industrial purposes in the same manner as any other of the fibersderivedfrom plants.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyingdrawings,forming a partot' this specification,

in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l'fi'sa longitudinalv elevationof the revolving platform carrying the boxesfor receiving the bagasse or other "material, parts of the conveyors and of the steam and water pipes being shown.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation of the devices for crushing and breaking the bagasse or other material before it is washed,

and an end elevationof arow of washing-tanks.

Fig.4 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one of the tanks. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation of g gasse.

On a platform,A, adapted to revolve in the horizontal plane on abase, B, a series of boxes 0, provided with removable lids, are arranged radially, as shown. The platformAis provided with suitable rollers or wheels, a, which rest on the base B and support the said platform A.

One or more pipes, D, extend from the inner end of each box 0 to a pipe, E, at the center.

I of the platform A, and into the pipe E a smaller pipe, F, projects in such a manner that I the pipe E can rotate around the pipe F, the

two pipes being suitably packed at the joints to prevent leakage. The exhaust-steam of the engine is conducted through the pipes F D,

and E to the boxes 0. The steam escaping from the safety-valve of the boiler is conducted to the pipe F through a branch pipe, G. A conveyer-belt, H, is contained in a frame, J,

well-known 1 provided with a downwardly-projeeting spout, K, the lower end of which projects over the outeredge of the platform A. The belt H is operated by suitable devices and extends from the cane-crushing mill to the platform A, or

from any other locality to the platform A, as it is used to carry the once or other vegetable matter from which thefiber is to be extracted to the platform A, on which the saidcane or other material is subjected to the first operationm A water-pipe, L, is so arranged that its 'lower'end will be above the platform A, as. shown in Figs. 1 and 2. "provided with an endless belt, h extends A side carrier, M,

fromthe platforinAto the crushing apparatus N. The carrier M is provided at the end toward the platform A with a spout, N, upon which the bagasse is emptied as itis drawn from the boxes 0, and then passes through the said spout upon the conveyer-belt M. The

crushing apparatus Nconsists ofalargewheel,

.frame P. The water is fed to the pipes in the semicircular top 1? and to the spouts B through apipe, R. A comb wheel, S, is journaled in the frame I? at the end opposite the one at which the end of the conveyor M is located, .and directly below the said comb-wheel the spout S is provided, from which the disintegrated bagasse or pulp passes upon aconveyerbelt, T, and is conveyed to the several washingtank's V, which are provided with a false bottom,VV, into the space below which steam. is conducted through pipes W. A pipe, U, provided with a faucet or cock, U, for each tank V, extends transversly over the same, and

supplies the tanks with sufficient water for washing the bagasse.

The operation is as follows: cane, sorghum, or other vegetable matter from which the fiber is to be extracted is conveyed from the mill or other place to the platform A,

and slides from the end of the belt Hdown the spout K into one of the boxes U, the lid of which has been withdrawn. Then the box The crushed is closed, and by means of a crank operated by machinery or by some other suitable device the platform A is turned so that the next box 0 will be below the spout K, and a quantity of lime-water and caustic-soda solution is conducted through the pipe L into the box that has just been filled, which lime-water and caustic-soda solution is contained in a suitable tank, from which it can flow into the pipe L. In place of using the lime-water and soda solution, a quantity of slaked lime and pulverized caustic soda can be sifted upon the bagasse in the box; but I prefer to use lime-water and caustic-soda solution. In the above-described manner the several boxes 0 are successively filled with bagasse, which is treated with limewaterand caustic-soda solution, and while one box is being filled the b'agasse in the other boxes is being operated upon by the lime-water and caustic-soda solution, and by the heat of the steam which passes from the exhaust-pipe F through the pipes E and D to the several boxes, and thereby the bagasse will be thoroughly impregnated with lime and soda. Atter each box has made one revolution and again arrives at the spout K it is opened, its contents are emptied upon the spout M and side carrier, M, and are conducted by the same to the crushing apparatus N. The box 0 can be emptied by hand or by machinery, as may be desired. The conveyer M carries the bagasse to the crushing apparatus N, where it passes to the periphery of the wheelO and the rollers Q and is crushed. Between each two rollers Qthat is, after every time it has been crushed-the bagasse or pulp is Washed by streams of water issuing from the spouts R.

S, which seizes it and dishevels it. Then the 40 bagasse drops upon the spout S, and is carried by the conveyer T to the severaltanks V, in which it is placed. In the said tanks the bagasse is-heated' by the exhaust-steam, which is conveyed into the space below the false hot 5 toms W by the pipes W. The steam passing through the perforated false bottoms Wcauses the disintegrated mass to rise to the surface,

the cooks U on the pipe U. The fibers are then used in the same manner. as other vegetable fibers, and for various purposes.

Having thus fully described my invention,.I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. The combination of a rotary platform carrying the radial bagasse-holders O, the rotary pipe E, and the fixed pipe F, connecting with the steam-supply, with a superposed soda and lime supply pipe, L, whereby the bagasse may be treated with steam, lime, and soda, as described.

2. In an apparatus for disintegrating ha gasse and other vegetable matter, the combination, with the frame or casing P, of the top P, the wheel 0, the rollers Q, the comb-wheel S, and the spouts R between each two rollers Q, substantially as herein shown and described,

and for the purpose set' forth.

THEOPHILE HARANG.

Witnesses:

ERNEST GHEssE', ARMAND PILIE.

where it is washed by the water issuing from 7 

